Tetrahydroimidazo(3,4-c)-1,3-diazocine intermediates for production of guanidines

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a process for preparing imidazolylalkylguanidines, in particular N-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N&#39;-[2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolylmethylthio)ethyl]guanidine (impromidine) which has histamine H 2  -agonist activity, to intermediates for use in this process and to processes for preparing these intermediates.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 270,072 filed June 3, 1981,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,435.

This invention relates to a process for preparing certainheterocyclyalkylguanidines, to intermediates for use in this process andto a process for preparing these intermediates.

In recent years it has been recognised that certainheterocyclylalkylguanidines possess useful biological activity. Forexample U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,659 discloses and claims compounds offormula (I): ##STR1## where Het is a 4-imidazolyl,5-methyl-4-imidazolyl, 5-ethyl-4-imidazolyl, 5-halo-4-imidazolyl,2-thiazolyl, 3-isothiazolyl, 4-halo-3-isothiazoyl, 2-pyridyl,3-halo-2-pyridyl, 3-hydroxy-2-pyridyl, 3-methoxy-2-pyridyl or3-ethoxy-2-pyridyl group and Het' is a 4-imidazolyl group; and hydrates,pharmaceutically acceptable salts and hydrated pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts thereof. The compounds of formula (I) have histamine H₂-receptor agonist activity.

Compounds of formula (I) have been prepared either by reacting acompound of formula (II) or (III): ##STR2## with a complementary amineof formula (IV) or (V): ##STR3##

Alternatively compounds of formula (I) were prepared by reacting acompound of formula (V) or (VII): ##STR4## with a complementary amine offormula (IV) or (V) above to form a compound of formula (VIII): ##STR5##which is then converted into a compound of formula (I). In formulae (II)to (VIII) Het and Het' are as defined with reference to formula (I); Ais alkyl, Q is oxygen or sulphur and Y is a group such that thecompounds of formula (VIII) may be converted easily into thecorresponding compound of formula (I), for example Y may be benzoyl orcyano.

We have now invented a process for preparing heterocyclylalkylguanidines including those of formula (I) above with an improved degreeof purity in particular the formation of bis compounds for example offormula (Ia): ##STR6## as biproducts is avoided.

Accordingly the present invention provides a process for preparingcompounds of formula (IX): ##STR7## wherein R¹ is attached to a carbonatom in the imidazole moiety and is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl; R² ishydrogen, or a group convertible into hydrogen under acid conditions; R³is an optionally substituted alkyl group and n is 2, 3 or 4; whichcomprises reacting a compound of formula (X): ##STR8## where n and R¹are a defined with reference to formula (IX) and R² is a groupconvertible into hydrogen under acid conditions, with a compound offormula (XI): ##STR9## where R³ is as defined with reference to formula(IX) and thereafter optionally converting the group R² into hydrogen.

One particularly important compound which can be made by the process ofthis invention isN-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N'-[2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolylmethylthio)ethyl]guanidine(impromidine) which is useful as a histamine H₂ -agonist.

The nature and identity of R¹ are not critical to the success of theprocess, the group being selected having regard to the particularguanidine to be prepared.

Examples of halogens which R¹ represents are chlorine and bromine.

Examples of alkyl groups which R¹ represents are C₁₋₄ alkyl groups,particularly methyl.

Preferable R¹ occupies position 5 of the imidazolyl moiety.

In particular R¹ is hydrogen.

By way of example R² is benzoyl or cyano but preferably it is benzoyl.

Using the process of this invention, it is possible to introduce a widevariety of groups R³. Thus the group R³ may be selected on the basis ofthe properties whch it is desired that the product should possess.

R³ may represent an alkyl group for example a C₁₋₄ alkyl group andparticularly a methyl, ethyl or n-propyl group; or a phenyl substitutedalkyl group, for example benzyl.

R³ may also represent a substituted alkyl group of formula (XII):##STR10## where Het² is a 2-furanyl or 2-thienyl group optionallysubstituted in the 5-position with a group R⁵ R⁶ N(CH₂)_(r) - where R⁵and R⁶ are C₁₋₄ alkyl or together with the nitrogen atom to which theyare attached form a pyrrolidino, piperidino or morpholino group and r is1 to 4; a 4-imidazolyl group optionally substituted in the 5-positionwith C₁₋₄ alkyl or halogen; a 2-pyridyl group optionally substituted inthe 3-position with C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, halogen, amino or hydroxy;a 2-thiazolyl group or a 2-guanidino-4-thiazolyl group; Z is sulphur ormethylene; when Z is sulphur p is 1 or 2 and q is 2 or 3 provided thatp+q is 3 or 4 and when Z is methylene p is 0, 1 or 2 q is 2 or 3 and p+qis 2, 3 or 4.

With reference to formula (XII) examples of C₁₋₄ alkyl groups which R⁵and R⁶ represent are methyl, ethyl, and n-propyl. Preferably R⁵ and R⁶are methyl, particularly where r is 1.

When Het² is a 4-imidazolyl group substituted in the 5-position withC₁₋₄ alkyl or halogen preferably the substituents are methyl or bromine.

When Het² is a 2-pyridyl group substituted in the 3-position with C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, or halogen perferably the substituent is methyl,methoxy or bromine.

Preferably p is 1 and q is 2.

Preferably Z is sulphur.

Particular meanings of R³ in formula (XII) are:

2-(2-guanidino-4-thiazolylmethylthio)ethyl-;

3-(4-imidazolyl)-propyl-4-(4-imidazolyl)butyl-;

4-(5-methyl-4-imidazolyl)butyl-;

2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolylmethylthio)ethyl;

2-(5-dimethylaminomethyl-2-furanylmethylthio)ethyl; and

2-(5-dimethylaminomethyl-2-thienylmethylthio)ethyl; of which2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolylmethylthio)ethyl is important because it ispresent in the compound impromidine.

R³ may also represent a substituted alkyl group of formula (XIII):-##STR11## where the group R⁵ R⁶ N(CH₂)_(r) - is as defined withreference to formula (XII) and occupies the 3- or 4-position of thephenyl group.

Examples and preferred values of R⁵, R⁶ and r are as discussed abovewith reference to formula (XII).

A particular meaning of R³ having formula (XIII) is:

3-(3-dimethylaminomethylphenoxy)propyl

Generally the reaction can be carried out in a polar organic solvent,the choice of which is not critical to the success of the reactionprovided that it is substantially inert to the reagents and product.Examples of suitable solvents are N,N-dimethylformamide and C₁₋₄alkanols, particularly ethanol.

The reaction is generally carried out at moderate temperatures forexample from room temperature to the reflux temperature of the solvent.

The period required for the reaction to proceed to completion dependsupon the reaction condition. The reaction can be followed by standardtechniques for example thin layer chromatography and is stopped when itis indicated that the reaction is substantially completed.

The product can then be isolated from the reaction mixture byconventional methods.

Compounds of formula (IX) where R² is a group convertible into hydrogenunder acid condition, for example cyano or benzoyl, can be convertedinto the corresponding compounds of formula (IX) where R² is hydrogen byacid hydrolysis using for example a mineral acid in particularhydrochloric or sulphuric acid.

Compounds of formula (IX) above where n is 2 or 3 and R³ is a group offormula (XII) or (XIII) are histamine H₂ -agonists. Compounds of formula(IX) above where n is 4 and R³ is a group formula (XII) or (XIII) arehistamine H₂ -antagonists.

Compounds of formula (IX) above where R³ is a group of formula (XII)where Z, p and q are as previously defined; Het² is2-guanidino-4-thiazolyl; n is 2,3 or 4, R² is hydrogen, cyano or benzoyland R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₄ alkyl or halogen provided that n is 4 when R¹and R² are hydrogen are described as histamine H₂ -antagonists inEuropean Patent Specification No. 0 010 418.

Compounds of formula (IX) above where R¹ is in position 5 and ishydrogen, C₁₋₄ alkyl or halogen R³ is a group of formula (XII) where Z,p and q are as previously defined; Het² is 2-furanyl or 2-thienylsubstituted with a group R⁵ R⁶ N(CH₂)_(r) as previously defined; R² ishydrogen or cyano, n is 2, 3 or 4 and compounds of formula (IX) where R³is a group of formula (XIII) and n is 2, 3 or 4 are described ashistamine H₂ -antagonists in European Patent Specification No. 0 002930.

The intermediates of formula (X) are novel and form a further aspect ofthe invention.

Specific intermediates of formula (X) are:

8-benzamido-4,5-dihydroimidazo(3,4-c)-1,3-diazepine and

9-benzamido-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo(3,4-c)-1,3-diazocine.

The intermediates (X) can be prepared by a process which comprisescyclising a compound of formula (XIV): ##STR12## where R¹, R² and n areas defined with reference to formula (X) and R⁴ is an optionallysubstituted aryl group where necessary in the presence of anon-nucleophilic base.

Preferably R² in the compound of formula (XIV) is benzoyl.

Examples of groups which R⁴ represents are phenyl optionally substitutedwith one or more C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, halogen or nitro substituents.

Preferably R⁴ is phenyl.

Examples of non-nucleophilic bases which can be used in this process arealkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydrides for example sodium andcalcium hydride, alkali metal t-butoxides for example potassiumt-butoxide and bicyclic diazalkenes for example1,5-diazabicyclo(4.3.0)-non-5-ene and1,5-diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-5-ene.

Preferably the base is sodium hydride.

When R² is cyano and n is 2 or 3 the base can be omitted. The reactionis generally carried out in a non-interfering polar organic liquiddiluent or solvent the choice of which is not critical to the success ofthe reaction provided that it is substantially inert to the reagents andproduct. Examples of such solvents include N,N-dimethylformamide anddimethylsulphoxide. When the base is a hydride the reaction medium mustbe dry.

The reaction is generally carried out at low temperatures for example 0°C. to room temperature, 5°-10° C. being preferred.

The time required for the reaction to go to completion depends upon thereagents employed and the precise reaction conditions. In any particularcase the process can be monitored by a conventional technique forexample thin layer chromatography and the reaction mixture worked up byconventional methods.

The intermediates of formula (XIV) can in turn be prepared by reactingan amine of formula (XV): ##STR13## where R¹ and n are as defined withreference to formula (XIV); with a compound of formula (XVI): ##STR14##where R² and R⁴ are as defined with reference to formula (XIV).

This reaction is generally carried out in a polar organic solvent, forexample a halogenated hydro carbon, in particular methylene chloride anda C₁₋₄ alkanol, in particular ethanol at moderate to low temperature forexample, less than 10° C. and preferably between 5° and 7° C.

The intermediates (XIV) particularly where R¹ and R⁴ are as previouslydefined, R² is CN and n is 2 or 3 can cyclize in situ. Thusintermediates of formula (X) where R¹ is as previously defined, R² is CNand n is 2 to 3 can be prepared by reacting an amine of formula (XV)where R¹ as previously defined and n is 2 or 3 with a compound offormula (XVI) where R² is cyano and R⁴ is as previously defined to forma compound of formula (XIV) where R¹ and R⁴ are as previously defined,R² is CN, and n is 2 or 3 which is allowed to cyclise in situ.

The following Examples illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1

(i) A solution of 4-methylhistamine was made in situ by adding thedihydrochloride (9.9 g) to a solution of sodium ethoxide in ethanol(from 2.3 g sodium and 50 ml ethanol) heating the mixture to reflux withstirring, cooling the mixture in ice and filtering the cooled solutionto remove precipitated sodium chloride.

The 4-methylhistamine solution was added dropwise with stirring over 15min to a cooled (5° C.) solution of diphenyl cyanoiminocarbonate (11.9g) in methylene dichloride keeping the temperature between 5°-7° C.throughout the addition. When the addition was completed the reactionmixture was allowed to warm to room temperature with stirring over 30min.

The mixture was extracted with sodium bicarbonate solution (5% w/v), theorganic phase was dried over magnesium sulphate and the solventevaporated yielding an oil which solidified on trituration with diethylether. The solid was dissolved in boiling ethanol and precipitated withn-hexane yielding 7-cyano-3,4-dihydroimidazo(3,4-c)-1,3-pyrimidine (4.0g) m.p. 249°-250° C.

(ii) A mixture of 2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolylmethylthio)-ethylamine (2.5 g)and 7-cyano-3,4-dihydroimidazo(3,4-c)-1,3-pyrimidine (2.23 g) in ethanol(50 ml) where heated under reflux for 20 hr. The ethanol was evaporatedleaving a oily residue which on addition of water formed a whitecrystalline solid which was recrystallised from water yieldingN-cyano-N'-[2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolyl)ethyl]-N"-[2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolylmethylthio)ethyl]guanidine(2.10 g) m.p. 190°-191° C.

EXAMPLE 2

(i) A solution of 3-(4-imidazolyl)propylamine in ethanol was prepared insitu from the dihydrochloride (4.95 g) by the method of Example 1 (i)with a solution of sodium ethoxide (from 1.15 g sodium and 50 mlethanol) in ethanol.

The 3-(4-imidazolyl)propylamine solution was added dropwise withstirring over 15 min to a cooled (5° C.) solution of diphenylbenzoyliminocarbonate (7.93 g) in dichloromethane (75 ml), keeping thereaction temperature between 5°-7° C. throughout the addition. When theaddition was complete the mixture was allowed to warm to roomtemperature over 30 min with stirring. The volume of the mixture wasevaporated to 25 ml poured into water (250 ml) and chilled for ca 16 hr.The white solid which deposited was recrystallised from aqueous ethanolyielding N-benzoyl-N-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-O-phenyl isourea (6.06 g)as a white crystalline solid.

(ii) N-benzoyl-N-(3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl)-O-phenyl isourea (5.0 g) wasadded to a stirred suspension of sodium hydride (0.5 g NaH, weighed as a50% dispersion in oil and washed before use with b.p. 40°-60° petroleumether) in dry dimethylformamide (50 ml). The addition was carried outover 10 min with cooling, keeping the temperature between 5° and 10° C.The reaction mixture was stirred for a further 10 minutes and thenallowed to warm to room temperature. Stirring was continued until T.L.C.(SiO₂ plate F₂₅₄ ; eluted with EtOAc: MeOH: NH₄ OH s.g. 0880 (5:1:1)indicated that the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture waspoured into water, and allowed to stand over-night. The precipitatedproduct was filtered, washed and recrystallised by dissolving in ethanol(30 ml) filtering through diatomaceous earth diluting the filtrate withan equal volue of water, and allowing the diluted filtrate to standovernight at 10° C. The product was isolated by filtration and driedyielding 8-benzamido-4,5-dihydroimidazo(3,4-c)-1,3-diazepine (2.31 g)m.p. 158°-160° C.

EXAMPLE 3

(i) A solution of 4-(4-imidazolyl)butylamine (1.39 g) in ethanol (25 ml)was added dropwise with stirring over 10 min to a solution of diphenylbenzoylimino carbonate (3.17 g) in dichloromethane (25 ml) with coolingto maintain the temperature at between 5°-6° C. When the addition wascompleted the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 30 min withoutcooling. The volume of the reaction mixture was reduced to 10 ml byevaporation and the residue was washed with water by decantationyielding N-benzoyl-N-[4-(4-imidazolyl)butyl]-O-phenyl isourea which wasused without purification in the next stage.

(ii) A solution of N-benzoyl-N-[4-(4-imidazolyl)butyl]-O-phenyl isourea(2.51 g) in dimethylformamide (15 ml) was added dropwise with stirringover 10 min to a suspension of sodium hydride (0.5 g; weighed as a 50%dispersion in oil) in dimethylformamide (10 ml), keeping the temperatureat between 5°-7° C. throughout the addition. The mixture was thenstirred for 30 min at room temperature and poured into water (200 ml).An oil deposited which solidified. The solid was filtered andrecrystallised from ethanol/diethyl ether giving9-benzamido-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo(3,4-c)diazocine (1.05 g) m.p.102°-103° C.

EXAMPLE 4

A solution of 3-(4-imidazolyl)propylamine in ethanol (400 ml) was madein situ from the dihydrochloride (4.0 g) and sodium ethoxide (from 0.92g sodium and 400 ml ethanol) by the method of Example 1 (i). Thissolution was added dropwise with stirring over 15 min to a solution ofdiphenyl cyanoiminocarbonate (4.76 g) in dichloromethane (40 ml) keepingthe temperature between 5°-7° C. throughout the addition.

When the addition was complete the reaction mixture was allowed to warmto room temperature and to stir for a further hour. Dichloromethane wasevaporated leaving an ethanolic residue to which water was added causingan oil to deposit. The oil was washed with water by decantation andchilled. The oil solidified giving8-cyanoamino-4,5-dihydroimidazo(3,4-c)diazepine m.p. 210°-215° C.

EXAMPLE 5

A solution of 2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolylmethylthio)ethylamine in ethanol(50 ml) was prepared from the dihydrochloride (2.53 g) and sodiumethoxide in ethanol (from sodium 0.51 g and ethanol 50 ml) as describedin Example 1(i). To this was added8-benzamido-4,5-dihydroimidazo(3,4-c)diazepine (2.54 g). The mixture soobtained was refluxed for 20 hr cooled, filtered and the solutionevaporated leaving a residue which was triturated with water yieldingN-benzoyl-N'-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N"-[2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolylmethylthio)ethyl]guanidine as a white solid m.p. 98.5°-100° C.

EXAMPLE 6

(i) A mixture of 8-benzamido-4,5-dihydroimidazo(3,4-c)diazepine (2.54 g)and 4-(4-imidazolyl)butylamine in ethanol (25 ml) were refluxed for 5hr. The ethanol was evaporated and the residue was triturated withwater, dried and triturated with diethyl ether. The residue solidifiedyielding crudeN-benzoyl-N'-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N"-[4-(4-imidazolyl)butyl]guanidinewhich was used in the next step without purification.

(ii)N-Benzoyl-N'-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N"-[4-(4-imidazolyl)butyl]guanidine(3.9 g) was refluxed overnight with conc. hydrochloric acid (50 ml). Theexcess of hydrochloric acid was evaporated yielding a residue containingcrude N-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N'-[4-(4-imidazolyl)butyl]guanidinetrihydrochloride which was characterised as the tripicrate as follows.The residue was diluted with water and extracted with diethylether toremove benzoic acid. The aqueous phase was separated and an excess ofaqueous sodium picrate solution was added to it. This deposited a yellowsolid which was recrystallised from aqueous acetone yieldingN-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N'-[4-(4-imidazolyl)butyl]guanidinetripicrate m.p. 206°-208° C.

EXAMPLE 7

Reaction of 2-(5-dimethylaminomethyl-2-furanylmethylthio)ethyl aminewith 8-cyanoamino-4,5-dihydroimidazo-(3,4-c)diazepine prepared asdescribed in Example 4 yieldsN-cyano-N'[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N"-[2-(5-dimethylaminoethyl-2-furanylmethylthio)ethylguanidine. This can be hydrolysed with dilute hydrochloric acid to yieldN-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N'-[2-(5-dimethylaminomethyl-2-furanylmethylthio)ethyl]guanidinetrihydrochloride which is characterised by conversion into the picrate.m.p. 144°-146° C.

EXAMPLE 8

Reaction of 2-(5-dimethylaminomethyl-2-thienylmethylthio)ethyl aminewith 8-cyano-4,5-dihydroimidazo(3,4-c)diazepine prepared as described inExample 4 yieldsN-cyano-N'-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N"-[2-(5-dimethylaminomethyl-2-thienylmethylthio)ethyl]guanidine.This can be hydrolysed with dilute hydrochloric acid to yieldN-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N'-[2-(5-dimethylaminomethyl-2-thienylmethylthio)ethyl]guanidinetrihydrochloride which is characterised by conversion to the picrate.

EXAMPLE 9

N-Benzoyl-N'-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N"-[2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolylmethylthio)ethyl]guanidine(2.37 g) was heated overnight on a steam bath with conc. hydrochloricacid (135 ml). The aqueous reaction mixture was evaporated to ca 75% ofits original volume to remove the excess of hydrogen chloride. Theaqueous residue obtained was extracted with diethyl ether to removebenzoic acid. The aqueous phase was evaporated at reduced pressure andazeotroped with ethanol (100 ml). The oily residue was recrystallisedfrom ethanol to yieldN-[3-(4-imidazolyl)propyl]-N'-[2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolylmethylthio)ethyl]guanidine trihydrochloride (1.93 g) m.p. 200°-201° C.

We claim:
 1. A compound of formula (X) ##STR15## where n is 4; R¹ isattached to a carbon atom in the imidazole moiety and is hydrogen,halogen or alkyl; and R² is cyano or benzoyl.
 2. A compound according toclaim 1 which is 9-benzamido-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo(3,4-c)-1,3-diazocine.